VOA标准英语2013--Forensic Testing of Ivory Could Combat Elephant Poaching

 

Forensic¹ Testing of Ivory Could Combat Elephant Poaching

The sweeping² grasslands³ of the African savannah might not exist without elephants. They knock down so many trees that forests transform into plains, where other grazers and birds feed.  Elephants maintain the shape of the land, and without them, everything would change.  And for many, that would make the world a poorer place.

“There’s some connection between humans and elephants that would be a really sad thing to lose,” says Kevin Uno of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory⁴ at Columbia University.

Uno warns that elephant extinction⁵ is a possibility this century, as poaching of African elephants is at an all-time high.  There are only about 400,000 left in the wild, and 30,000 are killed each year for their tusks⁷.  “In a span of 15 to 20 years, we could lose our elephants,” the researcher said.

Elephant ivory is highly sought-after as a carving⁸ material, especially in China and Japan.  Trade in ivory was made illegal in 1989 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).  Ivory that was harvested before the ban, however, is still legal to buy and sell.  This is a perplexing issue for anti-poaching efforts: how to tell the old, legal ivory from the new, illegal ivory?

An international team of scientists, including Dr. Uno, determined⁹ that the answer can be found with a test measuring the level of radioactive carbon in a piece of ivory.

Atmospheric¹⁰ radiocarbon has been at an especially high level since nuclear weapons testing by the United States and Soviet¹¹ Union in the 1950s.  The radioactive element has been degrading ever since.  By matching the amount of radiocarbon in a tusk⁶ with the amount in the atmosphere at a given time, the researchers can tell when the tusk grew - and when the elephant was killed.

The team's findings were published in the Proceedings¹² of the National Academy of Sciences.  The researchers say they hope the test will allow investigators¹³ to distinguish legally-sold ivory from before the trade ban, from illegal ivory that was poached more recently.  This will presumably enable more effective enforcement of the ban on ivory trading, and disruption of poaching.

The technique can also be used to date horns and tusks from other animals, including rhinoceroses¹⁴, which are at even worse risk of extinction due to poaching.

Kevin Uno says that enforcing the trade ban is only part of the battle to save elephants.  The ivory trade is completely driven by the demand for ivory, and he advocates efforts to educate buyers about the consequences of their actions.

“What we need to send,” said Uno, “is a very clear message that when you buy something that’s made of ivory, there’s an elephant that died for that.”

The Obama administration has announced an executive order to combat the illegal sale of endangered animals in Africa.  The order provides $10 million to benefit anti-poaching efforts throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

1 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

2 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

3 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

5 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

6 tusk   

n.獠牙，长牙，象牙

参考例句：

• The wild boar had its tusk sunk deeply into a tree and howled desperately.野猪的獠牙陷在了树里，绝望地嗥叫着。
• A huge tusk decorated the wall of his study.他书房的墙上装饰着一支巨大的象牙。

7 tusks   

n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头

参考例句：

• The elephants are poached for their tusks. 为获取象牙而偷猎大象。
• Elephant tusks, monkey tails and salt were used in some parts of Africa. 非洲的一些地区则使用象牙、猴尾和盐。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

8 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

10 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

11 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

12 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

13 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 rhinoceroses   

n.钱，钞票( rhino的名词复数 )；犀牛(=rhinoceros)；犀牛( rhinoceros的名词复数 )；脸皮和犀牛皮一样厚

参考例句：

• Rhinoceroses and dragons for once will let us walk in peace. 犀牛与龙安歇，让我们能平静地行走。 来自互联网
• Although the rhinoceroses are very heavy, they can run very fast. 犀牛虽然体型笨重，但仍能以相当快的速度行走或奔跑。 来自互联网